Clutch and mechanism for effecting axial movement of a driven member



May 19, 1942. E. F. KOHL CLUTCH AND MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING AXIALMOVEMENT OF A DRIVEN MEMBER Filed Nov. 22, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-2 II I I I I o o I o May 19, 1942. E. F. KOHL 2,283,267

CLUTCH AND MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF A DRIVEN MEMBERFiled Nov. 22, 1939 3 Sheegs-Sheet 2 FIG-5 FIG-6 A iNVE NTOR EVERARD F.KOHL ATTORNEYS E. F. KOHL CLUTCH AND MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING AXIALMOVEMENT A DRIVEN MEMBER Filed Nov. 22; 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FlG-YINVENTOR EVERARD F. KOHL FIG.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 19, 1942 CLUTCH AND MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING.AXIAL 'MOVEMENT F DRIVEN MEM- Everard F. Kohl, Cl eveland, OhioApplication November 22.1939, Serial No. 305,626

26 Claims. (01.

My invention relates to improved means for effecting axial movement of-adriven member by means of a rotatable driving member. More particularly,it relates to a pulley of the V-groove type which isautomaticallyadjustable in accordance with the rotative'speed of its driving. member.

My invention also relates to the combination of a driving pulley of theV-groove type and a driven pulley of the same type connected together bysuitable transmission means. said pulleys being self-alining and beingadjustable in such a manner that the ratio of transmission between thedriving pulley and the driven pulley will vary. in accordance with therotative speed of the driving pulley.

In transmitting power at different ratios from a primary shaft to adriven shaft, it has heretofore been the practice to provide a V-shapedpulley of the split type on the driving shaft, one of the driving disksof which is adjustable by means of a spring to provide transmission ofpower from the driving pulley to the driven pulley at different ratios.

the driven shaft to provide proper transmission alinement and to adjustthe position of the driving pulley or provide other suitable means foradjusting the'belt between the pulleys to provide the proper tautness.

It is'the aim of the present invention to provide improved means forimparting axial and rotative movement to a pulley ofthe split type andto also impart axial movement to one or both parts of the split pulley.In a broader sense,

however, my invention contemplates improved means for translating therotative movement 01 the driving member into axial movement of a memberto be driven for any desired purpose, such as for moving a clutchingmember or for operating a lever for controlling valves or the like.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide improved apparatusfor effecting axial movement of a driven member from power transmittedfrom a rotatable driving member.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved pulley havingmating parts, at least one of which is adjustable toward the othermating part as the rotative speed of its driving means increases.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved pulley of theV-groove type having mating parts which are adapted to be adjusted awayfrom each other by transmission means inserted between them and whichare aua driving member. 7

.tomatically adjustable toward each other to'raise the transmissionmeans in the V-shaped gr ove as the speed of its driving memberincreases.

Another object of my invention is to'providean improvedapparatusincluding a driving memher and a driven-v member 'in whichthedriven member may be rotated from power transmitted by the drivingmember and inwhich the driven member is movable axially with'respect tothe A still further objector my invention is to provide an improvedcombination including a driving pulley, a driven pulley and transmissionmeans in which power is adapted to be transmitted from the drivingpulleyto the pulley to be driven at various ratios in accordance withthe speed of a driving member.

Other objects, and advantageslof my invention will be apparent as thespecification proceeds.

- My invention will be better understood by reference to theaccompanying dFawings in which Fig. 1 is a composite view of one form ofmy improved' pulley, the lowerpart of the View be In such cases,however, it is necessary to utilize a smooth pulley on Fig. 2 ma crosssectional view on the line 2 2 a with parts brokenaw'ay to show adjacentstructure; Fig. 3 is an end view a plane passing through" the line 3,-3,looking in the direction of the arrows; I Fig.- 4 is a cross sectionalview o'f the upper part of another form .0! myimproved' pulley and aside elevational view of a driving shaft to which it is attached; 7 Fig.5 is a cross sectional viewsimilar to the lower portion of Fig. 2showing a modifiedform of means for efiecting a driving connectionbetween the driving member and the driving pulley: Fig. 6 is a plan viewof my improved pulley showing it operatively connectedwith a pulley onan external shaft tobe driven.

Fig. 7 is a composite view, partly in elevation and partly in section,of a centrifugally operated clutch and a pulley oi the smooth typeshowing means for imparting a'ikial movement to a mem ber forefiecting aclutching engagement;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional View onthe line 8-8 of Fig. 7, with partsbroken away to show adjacent structure;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the for the housing; and y, i

Fig. '10 is a* -composite vie partly in elevation and partlyfin section.0 a centrifugally operated houslng'and an elevational view oi an of thepulley as seen from flanges 8 and 9.

from the other part. As shown, one of the parts is 'adjustable away fromthe other part or both parts are adjustable away from each other by theforce of a transmission means. When the driving member for the pulley,however, is driven at a predetermined speed, at least one of the partsof the pulley is adjusted toward theother part in accordance with thespeed of the driv ing member, thus raising the transmission means inthe'V-shaped groove and providingmeans for changing the ratio ofpowertransmitted by the driving pulley as the speed of the drivingmember increases. 7

While various means may be provided for driving the pulley and adjustingat least one of the parts of the pulley toward the other, Figs. 1; 2

and3 illustrates one form of my invention in which asplit pulleyjof theV-groove type is shown including a part'll adapted to be driven by ashaft 2 and a mating'part 3 adapted to be driven by a shaftl. The shaft2is rotatably and slidably mounted upon bearings 5 supported by a shaft 6connected toa housing I and shaft 4 is rotatably and slidabiy mountedupon shaft 2. The free ends of shafts 2 and 4 extend within housing Iand are provided'with outwardly extending. peripheral flanges 8 and 9,respectively, theupper portions ofwhich form clutch surfaces and areinclined outwardly as indicated by the numerals I II and II 'inoppositedirections from a plane passing between the adjacent sides of The matingparts of the be adjusted away from each other by the force of atransmission means |2 inserted between the groove 22 formed in each ofthe clutch members.

As explained more fully in Patent No. 1,972,741 granted to me onSeptember 4, 1934, when the housing is operated at .a predeterminedspeed.

depending upon the amount of mercury in the housing. and the material ofwhich the clutch members are formed, the drag upon themercury.

will cause it to :be gradually picked up by the driving member and asthe speed increases the mercury will assume the form of an annulus in Ithe peripheral portion of the interior of the housing and-the buoyantforce of the mercury when it'is thus rotated with the driving memberwill press the clutch members radially inwardly against clutch surfacesHI and II formed;

onflanges I and 9 of driving shafts 2 and I, thus .scausing-rotation ofthe pulleys fl and 3.

For the purpose of adjusting the mating parts I and '3 of the pulleytoward each other, the

iower portion ofxeach of the clutch surfaces is bevelled inwardly fromopposite sides forming inclined surfaces 23 and 24 which are adapted toengage clutch surfaces Ill and I I. As the speed pulley are adapted topulleys. when thehousing, however, is rotated f at a predeterminedspeed, means are provided to drive the pulley parts and adjust themtoward each other. While the housing 1 maybe rotated by any desirablemeans, 'as shown in the drawings, a shaft I3 is provided that may berotated by any desired prime mover, such as an electric motor;-and whichis keyed to the housing shaft 8 and prevented from longitudinal movementwith respect thereto by any suitable means, such asaset Screw Ha.

As shown in the drawings, the housing consists of a side wall llprovided with a peripheral flange l5 and a cover I8 and is adapted tocontain a heavy liquid, such as mercury, which may be inserted throughsuitable openings, normally closed by plugs 11. Mercury is preferredbecause it has a relatively'high specific gravity and is' stable underordinary conditions. Associated with the housing are a plurality ofclutch meme bers l8 having a lower specific gravity than the liquidwhich are preferably formed of a suitable 'molded composition, such asasbestos flbers of the housing is increased and the clutchmembers areforced inwardlyfthe inclined surface 22 of each-clutch will 'engage'theinclined clutch member surface l0,.forcing shaft [outwardly from thehousingand' the inclined surface 24 of i each clutch member wili engagethe inclined clutch surfaceforcing shaft 2 inwardly. It

will therefore ;be seen that as.the.speed'of the housing increases themating .parts- I and 3 of the pulley willnot only be driven in unisonbut the. parts willbe adjusted toward each other. Se'aling means' 25 areprovided to-prevent the escape of mercury between the member i6 andshaft 4'. and'in a like manner-sealing means 26 and 21 are provided toprevent mercury from flowing between shafts I and 2 and between theshaft 2' and bearings I. I

. Clutch members l8 and, flanges 8 and 9 on shafts 2 and are alsoconstructed and arranged Y of the mating parts to permit axial movementI l and l'iniunison upon shaft '6'. For this pur-. pose clutch-membersl8 are of considerably less width thanthe distance between the side I4and cover it assho'wn in Fig. 1. The entire assembly 1 includingclutchmembers l8, flanges I and. 9,

'and mating parts .I and 3 may therefore be moved-in unison-axially uponshaft 8, either to the left oi 'right' from'the position shown inFig. 1. -'l'his arrangement'is of particular importance in providing)proper alinementl when the pulley is utilized in combination wit .a'driven'pu1ley'of the split-type in which one part of the pulley-isflxed'to-ajshaft and,.the other-- part is adjustable toward and awayfromthe fixed part.

Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrates another form .of my invention, Inthis-figure'a pulley having by thepforce of transmission means and beingadjustable, towardthepart 28 in accordance with I into the housingthrough openings, normally the speed of rotation of the l drivingmember. I

The partlflzofthe pulleytis driven-by the shaft 30a. which extends intoa' r'otatable housing 32 and isprovided with'a pe'ripheral flange uhaving audownwardly; inclined annular clutch .sur-

ace

Thehousing 32 is adapted to contain a heavyliquid,.such as mercury,which may be inserted closed by suitable plugs 34. Arranged within thehousing 32 are a plurality of clutch members 38 which are normally heldin'engagement with the matlng' parts '28and29 is provided, thep'ar't 29being adjustable away from'its mating part 28,

- may also be provided tofsupportthe transmission Y ley.

- v engagement with the clutch surfaces.

' other part.

Means are also members with the hqu housing may be provided withinwardly extending flanges" 7 may be, and preferably formedin tli shownin Fig. 2. ex

-While the housing 32 may be rota d desirable means, such as a pulley ort as shown in the drawings it is attached to a; sha

38 by any suitable means such as aset scibr 38a. As the speed or thehousing 32 mereasej s the buoyant effect of the mercury will force theclutch members 35, each of which is provided with an inclined surface38a, into engagement with the clutch surface 83 on flange 8| andadriving connection will be established between .the rotatable housingand the. shaft which,

rotates the part 28 of the pulley in unison with the part 28 which isoperativelyassociated with the shaft 38. As the speed of the housingincreases, and clutch'members are moved 25 radially inwardly by thebuoyant force of the mercury acting against the force of-springs 86,shaft 800. is moved outwardly to adjust the part 18 of the pulleytowardthe part 28, thus raising the transmission means 88. in the;V-shaped 30 groove and providing a.

diherent .ratio of transmission between the driving pulley and ja.pulley which is to be driven. Appropriate sealing means 39 and "areprovided toprevent the escapeof mercury from the housingvand betweenshaft: 5

illazand a shaft 4| which is connected to or is integral withzpulleypart. as, An idler wheel 41d belt when it reachesthebottom of the V-s.haped groove formed by the mating. parts of the puldo Fig.5 of: thedrawings illustrates amodified formof my invention showing means forforcingthe clutch members into engagement with the clutch surfaces. Asshown, the lining 42 is prov vided with angular shaped indentations 48which are adapted to engage similar indentations 43a formed in the outersurface of th clutch members to exert an inward force uponthe clutchmembers during the rotation of the housing and 5 particularly after theclutch-members have been moved radially inwardly by the mercury into-Fig. 6 of the drawings illustrates; the combination of my improvedadjustable pulley with a. driven pulley 45 siidably fixed upon anexterior shaft 48. As shown in the drawings, the driving pulleydesignated by the numeral ,41' may be of "the type shown in Fig. 1 or ofthat" shown in Fig.

4' and the pulley 45 to be drivenjmay be either of the ordinarynonseparable type or of a type in which the parts, or at least one partof the] pulley is adjustable away fromjand toward the Assuming thatpulley 45 is of the usual nonseparable type and that the part 50 ofpulley 41 is adjustable toward the .ba'rtjl as shown in Fig. 4; of thedrawings, as the part 50 of pulley 41 is adjusted toward the. part/5| byan increase inspeed of rotatable housing 32, means are provided to slidedriven pulley 45 in the same direction to provide proper alinement ofthe transmission means. For this purpose the shaft 46 'is provided witha nut 48 and a spring 49 is interposedbetween the nut 48 and the pulley45 and 0 drivin v cally maintained iif alin'enie by tighteningbelfi "552 increases, it ior' 45 toward the nut force of the transmiss o of theforce th el 52 pwir iy groove fofihe d by iiiatiiig parts ratio at whichpowe driving pulley" changed.

in which both parts I toward each other andth pulley 45' is-iof a'sir'nilar type, as the sp ead lly 41 increases. the transmission mea-iis 52rises in' "the V- shap'ed groove in pulle *4! thus tighteningthe-transmission mea a the transmission means tightens, howevrfi forcesthe part 56 of pulley the mating parts 55' and of pulley 45. 0n the.

other hand as the rotative speed of the housing 1 decreases, the matingpartstitand 5| of pulley 41 are forced away rrom each other bythetransmission belt, thus ffelieving thetension on the Y belt,whereuponspring 811653 move matingparts 55 and of dri ven pulley45'toward each other and raise the" ansinission belt in the grooveformed by 1; 'se thuschangin'gutheratio oftransmissioh. 7 Cami {6 511118provided to vary the ratio of tr'ansmission in accordance with the speedof the drivingpulley while maintaining the pulleys in aliiieiiieiifiwltheachother.

when a driving pulleyfll ofthe type shown in Fig. 1 is utilized; therbitiii 6f' transmissionjmay be varied in accordari with the speed of"the g pulley and tlieulie mayi be automati-f of the mating part?- 55""1;r shaft 46 in which case the spring-anytime the iii of the pulley maybefioiriitted in r A 'suming that part flird t'o shea as he speed of thedriving pulley increases, parts50 and 5| are forced toward each other,thus raising the transmission belt-in the V-shaped groove of pulley 41and tightening the belt. As the belt tightens, part 55 of pulley 45 willbe forced toward nut 48 against the action of spring 49, and thetransmission belt acting upon pulley 41 will force the entire assembly,including shafts 2 and 4 and clutch elements I8 axially. to the rightupon shaft 6 as shown in Fig. 1.

Broadly considered, my invention is applicable to many different typesof driven members to whichanaxial movement or force may be imparted bythe buoyant force of the centrifugallyinfluenced liquid. Byway ofexample, in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 there is shown, as a modified form of theinvention, a construction for imparting axial movement to a clutchmember upon radial displacement of clutching elements through thecentrifugally-developed buoyant force ofa heavy liquid, such as mercury.Mounted on the drive shaft 60, and keyed to rotate therewith is ahollowrotatable housing 6| adapted tocontain a predetermined quantity ofmercury. .The housing is suitably closed and sealed by an-annular' covermember 62 which may be secured thereto by any suitable means, such aswelding. A plurality of radially movable segmental blocks 63 aredisposed annularlyfwithin the housing and have a limitedradial movementbetweenf the outerwall and the inner sleeve. 12. For the purpose ofdriving the segmental blocks and preventing their relative movement withrespectto the housing,-each block is centrally grooved at opposite sidesto provide for loose engagement with inwardly disposed flanges 65extending inwardly from arcuate shaped members 6 6 which are welded orotherwise secured to one side and the cover of the housing.

According to my invention, means are provided for translating the radialdisplacement of theis provided with a recess 61 which is adapted toreceive the outer portion of a thrust member 68,

the inner portion of which extends below the adapted to have matingclutch engagement with the surface of frictional material [1. On theopposite side of the pulleythere is provided a normally disengagedclutch member 80., provided with suitable clutching or friction materialdiminished.

' Figs. 7,.8 and 9 with the exception that instead clutch members and isprovided with a pin 69 to which the outer endsof a pair of oppositelyinclinedlinks l0 and H are loosely connected, the

free ends of which links lie upon the periphery of sleeve 12 surroundingshaft 60.. It will be clear that inward radial movement ofthe segmentalblocks will carry the pins 69 inwardly and cause the links and II toexert an axial displacing force.

An axially movable clutching member 13 is slidably mounted on sleeve I2as by a key 13a which engages a suitable axial keyway in the sleeve. Theinner or left hand portion of member 13 extends parallel to the sleeve12 and has abutting engagement with the free end of link.

member which it is desired to drive by means of the clutch) is mountedon a bearing 18a for free rotation about sleeve .12 and said bearing isslidable along the sleeve. Clutch engaging members 13 and 19a areprovided on opposite faces of ,the pulley hub, the surface of member 19being of utilizing an axial movable clutch member, an

axially movable annular sleeve 95 is provided.

which is adapted to move an actuating device for any desirable purpose,such as for closinga valve.

As illustrated, the axially movable member 95 is. 7

connected to a collar 96 and as collar 96 is moved axially it isadaptedto engage faces 91 on the oppositely extending arms 98 of a lever99 mounted on a stationary pivot I00 and the opposite end of which leveris provided with a threaded pin lill. which as shown is adapted toactuate and close a normally open valve against.

the force of spring !03 a H The operation of the apparatus disclosed inFigs. 7 to 11 inclusive, is similar to that show in Figs, 1 to 6inclusive. Briefly stated, the rotation of the housing containing aheavy liquid such as mercury,causes inward movement of the segmentalblocks by the buoyant effect of the mercury and the blocks acting uponthrust member 88 force clutch member Ii or sleeve 95 outwardly. Theaxial movement of clutch member" 13 forces the face 11 of clutch member'16 into engagement with the clutch surface 19 of pulley 18, moving thepulley to the right as shown in Fig. 7 and forcing clutch face We intoengagement with the clutch surface a of clutch mem-' ber 80, therebyproviding driving engagement between the pulley andthe driving shaft.When driving shaft 60 comes to rest the axial pressure upon clutchmember 16 is released and is moved outof engaging contact with pulley 18by any suitable means, such as springs.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 10, upon axial movement of collar 98against faces 91 of lever 99; the lever is oscillated on its pivot I00.When driving member. 60 comes to rest the parts may be returned totheiroriginal position by. action of the spring I03 which normally holds thevalve in open position; The apparatus shown in Fig.

10 may-therefore be utilized as a governor.

1. Apparatusof'the class described, comprising a driving memberincluding a housing contain ing a liquid, a pulley having mating parts,one of the mating parts of said pulley being adjustable toward and.awayv from the other mating part, a driving shaft for the adjustablepart of said pulley extending into'said housing and provided with aclutch surface and means associated with said housing and operable bysaid liquid during the rotation of said housing for effecting a drivingconnection between the driving member and said clutchsurface, said meansand said clutch surface being so constructed and arranged that saidmeans is effective in forcing the driving shaft carrying the adjustablepart of said pulley axially toward its mating part in accordance withthe speed of rotation of said housing.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable housing containing a liquid, a pulley havingmating parts, one of the mating parts of said pulley being adjustabletoward and away from the other mating part, a driving shaft for theadjustable part of said pulley extendinginto said housing and providedwith an inclined clutch surface and a clutch member associated with saidhousing said clutch member having an inclined surface arranged in saidhousing and being operable by said liquid during the rotation of saidhousing for ef fecting a driving connection between said housing andsaid clutch surface, the inclined portion of said clutch member beingadapted to engage the in d portion of saidclutch surface and force thedriving shaft carrying the adjustable part of the pulley axially towardthe mating part of the pulley as the speed of rotation of said housingis increased. t

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable hous ing containing a liquid, a pulley havingmating parts, means for driving the parts of said pulley including amember extending into said housing and having a clutch surface and aclutch member arranged in said housing, said clutch member beingrotatable with said housing and being movable radially inwardly intoengagement with said inclined clutch surface, a clutch member arrangedin said housing and rotatable therewith and being movable radiallyinwardly into engagement with said clutch surface by said liquid duringthe rotation of said housing to impart rotative movement to said shaft,said clutch member having an inclined portion which engages theinclinedportion of said clutch surface and moves said shaft axiallytoward its mating part during the rotation of said housing."

"7. Apparatus 'of the class described; comprising adriving memberincluding a rotatable housing containing a liquid, a pulley havingmating parts, said parts being movable away from and toward each other,means for driving said pulley including a driving shaft operativelyassociated with each ofi'said parts and having a portion extending intosaid housing having an inclined clutch surface, a clutch member arrangedin said housing and rotatable therewith,said clutch member being movableradially inwardly by said liquidduringthe rotation of said housing andhaving inclinedsurfaces, one of the inclined surfaces of said clutchmember being adapted to engage the inclined surface'of one of saidclutch surfaces to draw one of the driving shafts inwardly andthe otherinclined surface of the clutch member being adapted to engagethe otherclutch surface and forcethe other driving shaft outwardly, therebymoving, the mating parts of said pulley toward each other during therotation of saidhousing. I V

8. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable housing containing a liquid, a pulley havingmating parts adapted to form a V-shaped groove for receiving atransmission means, said parts being movable away from and toward eachother, means for driving said pulley including a driving shaftoperativelylassociated with each part and having a portion extendinginto said housing provided housing and being movable radially inwardlyinto engagement with said clutch surfaces by said liquid during therotation of said housing.

5. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable housing containing a liquid, a pulley havingmating parts, at least one of said parts being adjustable toward andaway from the other part, means for driving said parts including adriving shaft operatively connected to the adjustable part, the free endof said shaft being extended into said housing and having an inclinedclutch surface, a clutch member arranged in said housing and rotatabletherewith and being movable radially inwardly into engagement with saidclutch'surface by said liquid during the rotation of said housing toimpart rotative movement to said shaft, said clutch member having aninclined portion which engages the inclined portion of said clutchsurface and forces the adjustable part, of said pulley axially towardits mating part during the rotation of said housing.

6. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable housing containing a liquid, a pulleyhaving'mating parts shaped to provide a V-shaped groove adapted toreceive a transmission means, at least one of said parts beingadjustable toward and away from the other part, means for driving saidparts including a driving shaft operatively connected to the adjustablepart, the free end of said shaft being extended into said housing andhaving an with a clutch surface and a clutch member rotatable with saidhousing and movable radially inwardly by said liquid during the rotationof said housing, the clutch surface mom of said portions being inclinedin one direction from a plane passing between the free end portions of"said shafts and the otherclutchsu'rface being inclined at an angle fromsaid plane in the opposite direction and said clutch member beingprovided with-inclined surfaces to engage said clutch surfaces and.being adapted to force the mating parts of said pulley; toward eachother against the force of said transmission means. i I

9. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable housing containinga-liquid, a pulley associatedwith said driving memberhaving mating parts, one of which is adjustabletoward and away from the other part, one of the parts of said pulleybeing adapted to be driven-directly-by said driving member and means fordriving the other part of said pulley including a driving shaftoperatively associated therewith and extending into said housing,and'means associated with said driving shaft and said housing and beingeffective by the buoyant action of said liquid upon rotation of saidhousing for driving said shaft and adlusting it toward its mating part.

i 10. A- clutch comprising a hollow rotatable driving member having abody of relatively heavy liquid therein, a clutch element of lesserdensity than said liquid and having buoyant contact therewith, a drivenmember axially movable with respect to the driving member, and means fortransmitting to the driven member from the clutch element an axialmovement imparted fthereto by the centrifugally-developed buoyant forceof the liquid.

11. A clutch comprising a hollow rotatable driving member having abodyof relatively heavy, liquid therein, a clutch element of lesserdensitymember being rotatable with said housingand being movable radiallyinwardly into engagement with said clutch surface by said liquid duringthe rotation of said housing and said clutch member and said clutchsurface being of less width than said housing, whereby said drivenmember and said clutch member 'may be moved axially in said housing. i Yr 13. A clutch comprising, a hollow rotatable driving member having abody of mercury therein, a plurality of clutch members arranged in -saidhousing, and means movable axially elative to said driving memberbythe'buoyant displacing forceof the mercury acting upon said clutchmembers during the rotation of said driving member.

14. A clutch comprising a hollow rotatable driving member having a bodyof relatively heavy liquid therein, a plurality of clutch membersarranged in said housing of lower specific members and the portionofsaid driven member extending in said housing being of less width thansaid housing and being movable axially in unison,

17. Apparatus of the class described compris ing a hollow rotatabledriving member having a body of liquid therein, a plurality of clutchmembers of less density than said liquid arranged a driven member, asecond driven member, each gravityth'an said liquid and having buoyantcontact therewith during the rotation of, said housing, said clutchmembers being displaceable radially inwardly by thecentrifugally-developed buoyant force of the liquid, means fortranslating said inward: movement axially with respect ,to said drivingmember, and a driven clutching member movable by said means.

15. Apparatus of the class described compris ing a hollow rotatablehousing having a body of liquid therein, a plurality'of clutch membersarranged in said'h'ousing andhaving buoyant contactwith said liquidduring the rotation of said housing, a driven member having a portionextending into' said housing provided with a clutch surface, said clutchmembers being rotatable with said housing and being movable radiallyinwardly intoengagement with said clutch surface duringthe rotation ofsaid housing and said clutch members and the portion of the drivenmember provided with the clutch surface being 01' less width than saidhousing and being movable axially in unison. I I

16. Apparatus of the class described comprising a hollow rotatable'driving member having a body of liquid therein, a plurality of clutchmembers of less density than said liquid'arranged in said housing andhaving buoyant contact with said liquid during the rotation of saidhousing, a driven member having a portion'extending into said housingprovided with a clutch surface, said clutch surface and said clutchmembers being so shaped that an axial force is imparted to the drivenmember by the centrifugally-developed buoyant force of the, liquid, andsaid clutch in said housing and having buoyant contact with said liquidduring the rotation of said housing,

of, said driven members having a portion extending in said housingprovided with a clutch surface, the clutch surfaces of said drivenmembers and the surfaces "of said clutch members being so shaped thatopposite axial forces are transmitted to said driven members by thecentrifugally-developed buoyant force of theliquid and said clutchmembers and said driven mem bers being movable axially in unison.

' 18. Apparatus of the -class described comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable housing containing mercury, a pulley having matingparts, means for driving said parts including-a driving shaftoperatively connected with each part, the free end of each of saidshafts being extended into said housing and having an inclined clutchsurface, a plurality of clutch members arrangedqn said housing, each ofwhich has oppositely, inclined clutch surfaces, said clutch membersbeing rotatable with said housing and being movable radially inwardlyinto ngagement with said clutch surfaces during t e rotation of saidhousing, said clutch members and the clutch surfaces on said drivingshafts being of less width than said housing and being shaped to impartaxial movement in opposite directions to said shafts andsaid clutchmembers and said driving shafts being movable axially in unison in thesame direction.

19. Apparatus of the class described comprising a driving shaft,.a'pulley mounted on said their relative positions to each other. 20. Incombination, a driving pulley of the V-groove type having mating parts,each of which is adjustable toward and away from the other part, adriven pulley of the V-groove type having mating parts, at least onepart of which is adjustable away from and toward the other part,transmission means arranged between said pulleys, a support for thedriven pulley, means including a shaft forrotating the driving pulley,means associated with said shaft and said driving pulley forautomatically movingthe mating parts of the driving pulley toward eachother as the speed of said shaft increases, and the mating parts of saiddriving pulley being axially movable in unison upon said shaft in thesame direction without changing their relative position to each othertopermit alinement of the driving pulley with the driven pulley.

able away from and toward the other part,'a support for the drivenpulley, resilient means for maintaining the adjustable part of thedriven pulley in mating rlation with the other part, a transmission beltarranged between said pulleys, means including a shaft for rotating thedriving pulley, said transmission belt being adapted to adjust themating parts of the driving pulley away from each other when said shaftis at rest or rotating at low speeds, means associated with said shaftand said driving pulley for automatically moving the mating parts of thedriving pulley toward each other as the speed of said shaft increases,thereby increasing the tension on said belt sufficiently to move theadjustable part of the driven pulley away from its mating part againstthe force of its resilient means, and the mating parts of said drivingpulley being axially movable in unison upon the driving shaft in thesame direction without changing their relative position to each other topermit alinement of the drivingpulley with the driven pulley.

22. Apparatus of the class described comprising a. rotatable housingcontaining a liquid, a plurality of clutch members arranged in saidhousing and having buoyant contact with said liquid during rotation ofsaid housing, a driven memher having a portion extending into saidhousing provided with a clutch surface, said clutch members beingdisplaceable radially inwardly by the centrifugall developed buoyantforce of the liquid, and said clutch members and said driven memberbeing movable axially in unison.

23. Apparatus of the class described comprising a hollow rotatabledriving member containing a liquid, a plurality of clutch-members havingbuoyant contact with said liquid during the rotation of said drivingmember, a driven member having an inclined clutch surface, said'clutchmembers being movable radially in said housing and having inclinedclutch surfaces for engagement with the clutch surface of said drivenmember. i

24. Apparatus of the class described comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable housing containing mercury, a pulley having matingparts, means for driving the parts of said pulley including a memberextending into said housing and having a clutch surface and a pluralityof clutch members arranged in said housing, said clutch members beingrotatable with said housing and being movable radially inwardly intoengagement with said clutch surface by said mercury during the rotationof said housing.

25. Apparatus of the class described comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable housing containing a liquid, a pulley associatedwith said driving member having mating parts, at least one of which isadjustable toward and away from the other part, andmeans associated withsaid housing and being effective by the buoyant action of said liquidupon rotation of said housing for driving said pulley and moving itsadjustable part toward its mating part.

26. Apparatus of the class described comprising a driving memberincluding a rotatable housing containing a liquid, a pulley associatedwith said driving member having mating parts which are adjustable towardand away from each other, and means associated with said housing andbeing effective by the buoyant action of said liquid upon rotation ofsaid housing for driving said pulley and adjusting the parts of thepulley toward each other.

EVERARD F. KOHLQ

